SR Squad Movements - Where they stand

[TRF_stormer2010]

Your ginger prop is doing quite well for himself, you should have Roux back eventually, alongside Botha. Groom and Schreuder at halfback; Jantjies seemingly. Midfield there is Pat Howard as well.

Hmm, have to say I forgot about Howard and have written off both Roux and Stander (for the Bulls and Bokke) until further notice. Howard has some work to do still and has some tough competition to go through but JdV won't be there for too long still.

 

[Draggs]

Roux's contract was only for a season or two, wasn't it?
Pat Howard, another Michaelhouse Patrick. We'll just say we traded him for PSdT

And ********, I have now gotten myself excited about SuperRugby.
We are reaching the a point near the bottom on the Draggs' no-rugby curve. A solid Christmas/New Years might stave off January. Better start drinking now.

 

[TRF_heineken]

What about De Allende?

He impressed me vs. the Sharks in the Currie Cup. Big Strong guy that knows how to run line and defend... Good Backup for JDV

 

[Gena_ZA]

I have always been correct in identifying raw talent and them becoming Boks one day - even with Zane Kirscher playing for Griquas back in the days - call it luck if you want
My next candidates are Pat Howard and Jan Serfontein , just watch them over the next 3 years

 

[peanuts40]

I have always been correct in identifying raw talent and them becoming Boks on day - even with Zane Kirscher playing for Griquas back in the days - call it luck if you want
My next candidates is Pat Howard and Jan Serfontein , just watch them over the next 3 years

Eh?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The Sharks seem to be most consistent with the addition of veterans Franco van der Merwe and Butch James while we only lose Michalak and Sykes. Other players who left are Hargreaves and Skeate but both have not played a good game in at least 2 years for the Sharks.

Our depth is massive with the emerging youngsters Reinach, Prinsloo, Stander, Dell, du Toit and the Marais brothers. In the hooker department we've seen guys like Cooper and Hadebe showing what they can do. Lambie at fly half, Ludik at full back and we are settled. We even have depth in the center department, something that seemed highly unlikely a year ago.

The biggest strength is still the backrow, where we have 5 Springboks, a veteran and 2 rookies battling for 3 spots. All of them, Deysel, Alberts, Kankowski, Coetzee, Daniel, Botes (still no confirmation of his departure), Stander and Mtembu are all able to perform at the highest level. Yes, even the 2 rookies. You'll see.

If only we could go 1 year without long-term injuries. Last year we had Mtawarira, Kanko, Alberts, Deysel, McLeod, Lambie, Pietersen all suffering and missing a lot of matches due to those injuries.

All positions are covered and I cannot wait for the new season. Some questions I want to see answered:


Can we build on the final of last year?
Can we finally beat the Crusaders again?
Can we top the conference?

If all goes well, we might even see a Super Rugby final in Durban. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Bring it on!

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk 2

 

[Gena_ZA]

Eh?

Zane on his day was an attacking fullback, reason why the Bulls bought him I think, he had a very special way of spinning out of tackles, back then I said he would become a Bok
Guess the style he now has playing for the Bulls and Boks is what they want

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I liked Zane, before playing for the Bulls. Now he's just a kick & rush-type of player who offers nothing on attack. Doesn't break the line, doesn't offload, he has become a dull boring full back, when in fact he was a massive talent when playing in Kimberley. Griquas always bring out the best in players. Look at Brummer for instance. Perfect example.

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[TRF_heineken]

I liked Zane, before playing for the Bulls. Now he's just a kick & rush-type of player who offers nothing on attack. Doesn't break the line, doesn't offload, he has become a dull boring full back, when in fact he was a massive talent when playing in Kimberley. Griquas always bring out the best in players. Look at Brummer for instance. Perfect example.

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk 2

yeah true, but he bulked up a lot!! he lost his pace when he was at Griquas, he's now just too slow to do what he did.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Bulls should let players retain their natural flair - looked at Andre Snyman when he became a wanabe body builder
The new breed are all wonderfully talented players, really hope they are still full of running and x-factor in 5 years time

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Daniel Braid from Auckland Blues to Sale Sharks
Daniel Adongo from Counties Manakau to Southern Kings
Edgar Marutlulle from Platinum Leopards to Southern Kings

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8377989,00.html
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8377088,00.html

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

So what would a probable Kings match day 22 look like?

Anybody else got any better ideas than mine below?

1 Jaco Engels
2 Bandise Maku
3 Ross Geldenhuys
4 Steven Sykes
5 Darren Nell
6 Thomas Leonardi
7 Jacques Engelbrecht
8 Luke Watson (c)
9 Nicolas Vergallo
10 Demetri Catrakilis
11 Marcello Sampson
12 Andries Strauss
13 Waylon Murray
14 Michael Killian
15 Hadley Parkes

16 Kevin Buys
17 Virgille Lacombe
18 Daniel Adongo
19 Mpho Mbiyozo
20 Shaun Venter
21 Burton Francis
22 Mzwandile Stick

 

[Darwin]

So what would a probable Kings match day 22 look like?

Anybody else got any better ideas than mine below?

1 Jaco Engels
2 Bandise Maku
3 Ross Geldenhuys
4 Steven Sykes
5 Darren Nell
6 Thomas Leonardi
7 Jacques Engelbrecht
8 Luke Watson (c)
9 Nicolas Vergallo
10 Demetri Catrakilis
11 Marcello Sampson
12 Andries Strauss
13 Waylon Murray
14 Michael Killian
15 Hadley Parkes

16 Kevin Buys
17 Virgille Lacombe
18 Daniel Adongo
19 Mpho Mbiyozo
20 Shaun Venter
21 Burton Francis
22 Mzwandile Stick

Certainly a few interesting names there! I remember Stick and Mbiyozo as very good Sevens players, but can't recall seeing them around for a few years. Good to see Adongo has been signed, as he certainly has all the attributes to be a very good Super Rugby player. He is still very raw, but there are few players in world rugby that could match him physically. The best aspect of his play during the ITM was his ability to cleanout at the breakdown, where he would often drive 2-3 opposition players off the ball! I would love to see him get more involved with ball in hand though.

In terms of Hadleigh Parkes, I really hope they don't play him at fullback. He is primarily a centre, but due to the Blues injury crisis last season he was forced to play out of position at fullback (or on the wing). He is completely out of his depth at Super Rugby level as an outside back, as he is ponderously slow (and has next to no experience there). He is a solid 12/13 at ITM Cup level (with good leadership skills) - if I was a selector I would probably have him on the bench covering Strauss and Murray. I understand Stick is primarily a fullback, so maybe he could be given the first shot there.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I don't know if we are having 23 men next year. I suppose if it's a go for test rugby it'll be implemented. Kings are a bit short in the prop dept ATM it has to be said.

They have some depth in decent players if not stars at hooker, lock and in the backrow and I am quite interested in Vergallo and Catrakilis as a halves pairing that is still young and already have somepotential. Beyond Vergallo and Catrakilis they don't have much though IMO. In Strauss, Murray, Cooke and Parks again they have solid enough centres for SR but no-one who you'd build a game plan around. Between Stick, Killian, Sampson and Mangweni they have exciting attacking backs even if they aren't going to play test rugby.

Better than I thought but I don't think they would be able to compete with the Lions of 2012 (who had their moments particularly beating the finalists Sharks) so I don't see the Kings doing any better than possibly beating the Force perhaps.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Interesting, they have some good individuals, same as the Rebels had in year 1 but this is a team sport built on synergy and demand experience and inter understanding of each other; I still think they will be found wanting first time around.
First game up against the "new" Force team should be a good one.

Very happy to see Ronnie Cook back, he left for Italy at a young age and he was marked as a future Springbok at the time.
I have huge respect for Alan Solomons and this team and structures will improve with time, pity SARU made them destined to fail with a relegation match at the end of the season if they finish last in SA conference and that will happen.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Really?

In what area of their team were the Lions better than the Kings team?

Apart from fly half, I would say the Kings team looks at least on a par with that Lions team.

By the way, Luke Watson scored 13 tries in 7 matches in Currie Cup Div. 1 last year, quite an achievement for a forward. I wonder how he will go at a better level of rugby.

ITO names on paper they are close enough to the Lions. Except if the likes of Jantjies, Taute, J Strauss fired they could make life difficult for opposition. The main thing is I just can't see the Kings get the type of teamwork required to be competitive right off the bat. And then there is injury. I think the Lions could have done a lot better if they could have fielded close to a full strength team throughout instead of getting exposed for a lack of depth as they did.

Watson has always scored tries even with Province but I have to say I wouldn't want him near my team as he tends to hog too much ball IMO and is a devisive charter. No coincidence we started ending 2nd and top of the log when he left amongst others and we started backing our own younguns.

Still its a solid enough 'starter squad' at least better than I anticipated and if they can manage a few key signings over the next few years (assuming the remain in SR) who knows. Certainly I think they are in a position to become more competitive than the Lions if managed right as the Eastern Cape is sorely underrepresented and with the Lions being so close to the Bulls ITO geography a more even spread might be better for SA in the long run.